They were part of the original garden of one of the first homes in the village where I live. The house and garden were established in the late 1800s and the house still stands behind my home, which is built on what was once its tennis court.
The old house has had a number of owners over the years, some have died and some moved on but somehow the freesias remain unchanged … sentinels of history … a witness to over 100 years of living.
They are such simple and uncomplicated flowers and last night their exquisite fragrance infused the entire room.
You meet people like that. People who are curious and intrigued by life and a little bit of their enthusiasm splashes onto you too … or those who are joyful and full of fun, who manage to make you laugh and see the funny side of life … and ordinary folk who add a drop of kindness to your day and manage to change the way you feel. Somehow their fragrance lingers after they’ve gone.
I got to thinking that we can do that quite unconsciously. We can just get out of bed and let the day dictate, responding and reacting to whatever comes along. We have a job to do or a family to raise and we step right out into the day without giving any thought to how we will live this precious once in a lifetime gift. The consequences often are indifference, resignation or focus on the immediate.
- Gratitude, deliberately refusing to take anything or anyone for granted
- Kindness, it doesn’t take much effort to be kind and it can change somebody’s day
- Encouragement, we all need encouragement but so often all we receive is criticism
- Enthusiasm or positivity, which can change the whole dynamics of a workplace or a family. I love positive, enthusiastic people who throw themselves into life even when things aren’t always easy for them. Somehow they change their life and mine.
Recently on my morning walk I passed a lady walking in the opposite direction. As I walked in her wake, I caught the sent of her perfume. It hung in the air long after she had passed. It was beautiful. What a challenge to live like that so even after we have passed by, something of the fragrance of our life will linger.